Ramayana — Sundara Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 17

लङ्काप्रवेशः

Hanuman Enters Lanka and Encounters Laṅkā-devatā

Devanagari script

समीक्ष्य तु महाबाहू राघवस्य पराक्रमम्।लक्ष्मणस्य च विक्रान्तमभवत् प्रीतिमान् कपिः।।।।

Transliteration

samīkṣya tu mahābāhū rāghavasya parākramam | lakṣmaṇasya ca vikrāntam abhavat prītimān kapiḥ ||

Translation

Ayant médité la vaillance de Rāghava (Rāma) aux longs bras et l’audacieuse prouesse de Lakṣmaṇa, le Vānara (Hanumān) fut intérieurement comblé de joie.

Word by Word

• समीक्ष्य: having considered
• समीक्ष्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund), ‘having considered/observed’

• तु: indeed
• तु: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: but/indeed)

• महाबाहू: the two mighty-armed (brothers)
• महाबाहू: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा + बाहु (प्रातिपदिके)
• Form: कर्मधारय; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘the two long-armed (Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa)’

• राघवस्य: of Rama
• राघवस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राघव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of Rāghava (Rāma)’

• पराक्रमम्: valor
• पराक्रमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पराक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; object of ‘समीक्ष्य’

• लक्ष्मणस्य: of Lakshmana
• लक्ष्मणस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लक्ष्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘of Lakṣmaṇa’

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• विक्रान्तम्: heroic prowess
• विक्रान्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विक्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘heroic prowess/stride’; object of ‘समीक्ष्य’ (elliptic)

• अभवत्: became
• अभवत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘became/was’

• प्रीतिमान्: pleased
• प्रीतिमान्: Pradhāna-viśeṣaṇa (प्रधान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रीतिमत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of ‘कपिः’

• कपिः: the vanara (Hanuman)
• कपिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कपि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; subject of ‘अभवत्’

Context

Reflecting upon the valour of long-armed Rama and valiant advances of Lakshmana Hamuman felt pleased (within himself).

Characters & Entities

• Rāma (Rāghava)
• Lakṣmaṇa
• Hanumān

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Dharma is sustained by trust in righteous leadership—Hanumān’s joy arises from contemplating the just strength of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, which supports faithful service and moral courage.

What is the narrative situation?

On the verge of perilous action in Laṅkā, Hanumān recollects the might of Rāma and Lakṣmaṇa, steadying his mind.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Śraddhā and bhakti expressed as morale: Hanumān’s devotion converts remembrance of Rāma’s virtue into fearless readiness.